The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-05-21
AN AWFUL SIEGE.
s. B. Smith Charges His Rela-
tives With Battery.

Commissioner Mckay had his first
experience in Police Court matters yes
terday, when, at the close of the Brown
in es.iga!ion, the case of the People VS..
John James and Albert Ludlow was
called. The complaints charged both
with battery upon the person of s. B.
Smith, the hero Of the Tenth Ward,
who stood off half dozen policemen
some months ago, and who was subse-
quently tried and convicted for that
otfense. Both defendants entered pleas
OF not guilty, and on being asked if
they desired to employ an attorney,
MIR. James said ne did not need an at
torney Justice was what he was after.
Mr.. Mckay looked dubious for q mo-
ment, and then said he would endeavor
to do what he could in the absence of
the prosecutor. AT this point all five
commenced talking simultaneously, and
1t was only by the frantic efforts on the
part of Deputy Pratt and a couple of
reporters that order was finally re-
stored. Smith, the complainant, is a
son-in-law of Mr.. James. and Ludlow
occupies the same position in that
gentleman's family. Some time since,
Smith, who was living at Payson, wrote
q very insulting letter to Ludlow, and
James had replied. telling Smith and
his wife never to darken his doors again.
What followed may be gathered from
the testimony.
He said: My wife and 1 went down to
my wife's father to pay him friendly
visit. Both Mr.. Ludlow and Mr.. James
had gone to bed. NV wife and l were
talking to her father, when Ludlow
came out of his room, and said: IS b.
Smith, do you know what think YOU
are?" l replied that [ did not care
what he thought. He then said You
are G. d son of b-h." With that
he jumped me. and pounded me; both
James and Ludlow struck me; but Lud-
low inflicted the greater portion of the |
blows.
Mrs. S. B. Smith corroborated the
testimony of her husband in reference
to going there; about Ludlow's |
language; and the beating of Smith by |
James and Ludlow. My sister, Lud- |
lows wife, also helped to beat my hus- |
band.
The defense was then represented by !
the introducing of the defendant John |
James. He said they had all retired to |
bed when the Smiths called; Ludlow |
opened the door for them to come in
Eliza Smith came into my bedroom, and |
finally called her husband in; he denied |
that Ludlow rad struck the first blow: |
and said Smith was the aggressor; a |
general rough and tumble fight fol- |
lowed, and when both of them got on |
ny bed, then endeavored to get them
OH; Smith was tearing the bed clothes. |
when hit him a couple of times. He |
then gave brief description of Smith |
career; of the time when he painted the |
Tenth Ward red, and his final incarce-
ration in the city jail; how Smith had |
sent him an insulting letter, |
and that he had written him |
for bidding either Smith or his wife |
(witness' daughter) from ever visiting |
his house again.
Albert Ludlow corroborated Mr..
James testimony; that be heard Smith |
talking to James; Smith had sent me an |
insulting letter; l went in and told him |
what thought OF him; that he was a |
s. OF b for doing it: L struck him |
first, but it vas when he was endeayor-
ing to bite me.
Ann Elizabeth Ludlow, wife of the
defendant. said: There has been con-
trouble between the Smiths
Gnu my 1otHSI 1diHlly, my mother |
died eight weeks ago. broken-hearted |
at my sisters conduct, and if God
would strike her dead, she would not !
get: more than she deserves.
This evidence was all given through a
copions flood of tears, the witness being
much affected.
Her sister, Mrs. Smith, broke in with |
indignant denials that she had been the |
cause OF her mothers death, and every-
oody was again talking at once, when |
I me Commlssloner's patience became
exhausted. and he an
nounced that the case wouId he contin-
ued until 10 this morning.